Telomerase activity significantly correlates with cell differentiation, proliferation and lymph node metastasis in colorectal carcinomas

• Published in: Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology Vol. 124; no. 8; pp. 444 - 449
• Main Authors: OKAYASU, I, MITOMI, H, YAMASHITA, K, MIKAMI, T, FUJIWARA, M, KATO, M, OSHIMURA, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.08.1998; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma; Adenocarcinoma - enzymology; Adenocarcinoma - pathology; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Bcl-2 protein; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Blotting, Southern; Cell Differentiation; Cell Division; Colorectal carcinoma; Colorectal Neoplasms - enzymology; Colorectal Neoplasms - pathology; Differentiation; DNA Primers; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Lymph nodes; Lymphatic Metastasis; Male; Medical sciences; Metastases; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; p53 protein; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; Predictive Value of Tests; Prognosis; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Telomerase; Telomerase - metabolism; Tumors; Cell proliferation; Rectal disease; Prognosis; RNA-directed DNA polymerase; Mitosis; Gene product; Tumoral tissue; Metastasis; TP53 Gene; Enzymatic activity; Tumor progression; Intestinal disease; Advanced stage; Colon; Tumor suppressor gene; Lymph node; Enzyme; Transferases; Malignant tumor; Cell differentiation; Gene expression; Colonic disease; Nucleotidyltransferases; C-Onc gene; Rectum; Digestive diseases; Predictive factor
• ISSN: 0171-5216; 1432-1335
• DOI: 10.1007/s004320050197

Telomerase activity was examined by the telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay, in a total of 37 colorectal adenocarcinomas, including stages A, B and C according to the Astler and Collier classification, and correlated with clinicopathological features. Of 17 stage C lesions, 13 were positive (76.5%; P<0.01), demonstrating a significant correlation with lymph node metastasis. In contrast, only 6 of 20 stage A and B carcinomas were positive (30.0%), this being significantly lower (P < 0.05). Moderately or poorly differentiated subtypes were more predominant in the telomerase-positive than in the telomerase-negative groups (P< 0.05) with greater elevation of mitotic and Ki-67 labeling indices (P < 0.0001). No significant relation was found between telomerase activity and p53 protein accumulation or Bcl-2 protein expression. The good correlation with tumor staging, lymph node metastasis, differentiation, and mitotic and Ki-67 labeling indices suggests that this parameter might have potential application in estimation of prognosis.